Louvered building structures



March 17, 1970 c. J. M KINNON LOUVERED BUILDING STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10, 1968 INVENTOR Yaw-IA UM sag/m y.

ATTORNEY$ March 17, 1970 c. J. M KINNON 3,500,583

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C INVENTOR UL/IV mm Mam/MW BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. C]. 4978 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A louvered building structure to be used at the roof or wall of a building. The structure includes at least two adjacent sets of movable outer panels mounted on an upwardly extending mounting frame. The outer panels of each set are movable in unison between open and closed attitudes. The individual panels of adjacent sets of outer panels are in coplanar, aligned relationship in their closed attitudes, with the mutually adjacent ends of the outer panels being in near-abutting relationship. Between the adjacent sets of outer panels there is a drainage channel secured between support members of the mounting frame inwardly of adjacent ends of the nearly abutting outer panels.

This invention relates to roof or wall structures.

It is often desirable in buildings such as stadiums, theatres, beergardens and the like to provide maximum air flow between the interior of the building and the surrounding atmosphere. This is especially so in warm to hot climates, or in humid weather, Where a relatively large gathering of people in a restricted area will after a short period create on oppressive atmosphere in the building. In some circumstances, use can be made of exhaust fans and/or air conditioning, but these items are expensive to install and operate.

It is also desirable in buildings such as barns, warehouses and the like to provide adequate light without incurring the expense of installing and maintaining special electric lights, or alternatively there may not be any electric supply available. In addition to the above examples, it will be appreciated that there may at times be a demand in any building at all, including shops and domestic residences, for more natural light or more flow of air than is currently available when conventional types of walls or ceilings are employed.

Accordingly, my invention has for its principal object the provision of improvements in roof or wall structures for buildings whereby flow of air between the interior of the building and the surrounding atmosphere may be permitted to a greater extent than is currently possible. Another object of the invention is to provide a roof or wall structure of the aforementioned character which will be usable to allow free flow of air and light, when so desired, while being weatherproof and rainproof at other times. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention resides broadly in a roof or wall structure having two or more adjacent sets of movable outer panels on an upwardly-extending mounting frame, wherein:

(a) each set of panels includes a plurality of substantially rectangular outer panels arranged in parallel relationship on the mounting frame, each outer panel having substantially horizontal upper and lower longitudinal edges, the lower edge of each panel overlapping the upper edge of an adjacent panel in the same set to provide a seal therebetween when the outer panels are in closed attitudes;

(b) said mounting frame is constituted by a plurality of upwardly-extending support members extending transversely to said longitudinal edges of said outer panels,

3,500,583 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 the upper longitudinal edge of each outer panel being hinged to outer portions of said support members so that the panels lie snugly against the outer part of said mounting frame when in closed attitudes and may be swung outwardly away from said mounting frame to open attitudes;

(0) means are provided for moving the outer panels of each set of panels in unison between said open and closed attitudes;

(d) the individual panels of adjacent sets of outer panels are in coplanar and aligned relationship with one another in their closed attitudes, the mutually adjacent ends of such outer panels being in near-abutting relationship, and

(e) between adjacent sets of outer panels there is provided a drainage channel secured between said support members and disposed inwardly of said adjacent ends of said nearly abutting outer panels.

It will be appreciated that the upwardly-extending mounting frame embraces an inclined roof frame or an inclined or vertical wall frame. Preferably, the roof or wall structure as defined is additionally provided with a plurality of substantially flat rectangular inner panels arranged in parallel relationship on inner parts of the support members, each inner panel having substantially horizontal longitudinal edges of which one is hingedly mounted, whereby the inner panels may be hinged between closed attitudes in which they are coplanar and constitute a continuous inner wall or ceiling, and open attitudes, means being provided for moving said inner panels in unison between said open and closed attitudes. Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional end view of part of a building fitted with a roof structure according to the invention, this View being somewhat diagrammatic and corresponding generally to a section taken on the line 11 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the roof structure depicted in FIG. 1, taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

There is shown in the drawings part of the uppermost portion of a building which has a roof system indicated generally at 10, supported by a wall indicated by the numeral 11. The roof system in this case includes a plurality of roof structure units according to the invention. FIG. 1 shows a first roof structure unit 12 having its lower end mounted on the wall 11, the unit 12 being inclined upwards and having its upper end connected to a top board 13 which is disposed medially and longitudinally of 'the building. Thus, there is a further roof structure unit 12a on the opposite side of the board 13 to the unit 12; while additionally, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a further roof structure unit 12b coplanar with and longitudinally aligned with the roof structure unit 12.

Each roof structure unit is identical in this instance, and the following description will therefore be directed principally to the unit 12. The unit 12 includes a plurality of substantially rectangular roof panels 14 arranged in parallel relationship on an inclined mounting frame 15 constituted by four parallel support members or bearers 16, the roof panels 14 being hingeable between open and closed attitudes as shown in FIG. 1. Each roof panel 14 has two parallel substantially horizontal longitudinal edges, namely a hinged edge 17 and a free edge 18, the latter being adapted to overlap the adjacent edge 17 of the adjacent panel 14 to provide a seal therebetween when the panels 14 are in closed attitudes. It will be noted that the four support members 16 are completely beneath the roof panels 14 and are at right angles there to in this instance.

The hinged edge 17 of each panel 14 is hinged to the top face of each support member 16 so that the roof panels 14 lie along the mounting frame when in closed attitudes, as shown in dotted outline at 19 in FIG. 1.In this instance, all of the roof panels 14 are of equal length so that each end 20' of each panel 14 is in transverse register with the corresponding ends of the other roof panels; while as shown in FIG. 2, the panel ends 20 are disposed substantially at the end extremities of the roof structure unit '12. There are provided means for moving the roof panels 14 in unison between the open and closed positions, while a feature of the invention is that the parts are so made and arranged, as apparent from FIG. 2, that the roof panels 14 in their closed attitudes permit water to pass over and gravitationally away from their ends 20.

Each roof panel 14 has an upwardly-extending bead structure 21 at its hinged edge 17 and a downturned flange 22 at its free edge 18, and it will be noted from the dotted outline 19 of FIG. 1 that the flange 22 is adapted to overlap the bead structure of an adjacent panel when the panels are in closed attitudes. Preferably, as shown in the drawings, the bead structure 21 and the flange 22 are both arcuate in cross-section. In the illustrated embodiment, each roof panel 14 is substantially flat between the bead structure 21 and the flange 22, but I may prefer to provide each panel 14 with a series of strengthening ribs (not shown) at equally-spaced intervals along the panel, each rib being at right angles to the longitudinal edges 17 and 18 and confined to the area between the bead structure 21 and the flange 22. In this instance, the hinged edge 17 of each roof panel 14 is the higher edge, and this is preferred to ensure waterproofing most conveniently. For hinging of the roof panels 14, each has a continuous longitudinal hinge rod secured to its hinged edge 17 (as by forming a bead or roll of the edge 17 around the hinge rod) and at positions corresponding to the support members 16, the hinge rod is exposed and passed rotatably through hinge brackets 23 secured to the top faces of the support members 16.

In order that the roof panels 14 may be moved in unison between the open and closed attitudes, each support member 16 has guide brackets 24 to permit guided longitudinal sliding of an actuating rod 25. Each roof panel 14 has a lever arm 26 connected to it pivotally at 27,

while the other end of the lever arm 26 is pivotally connected to the actuating rod 25 at 28. It will be seen from FIG. 1 that the levers 26 are substantially parallel at all times so that sliding of the actuating rod 25 in a downward direction will open all the roof panels 14 in unison, while sliding of the actuating rod 25 in an upward direction will close all the roof panels 14 in unison. Sliding of the actuating rod 25 is effected by rotating a pinion 29 which engages a rack portion 30 at the lower end of the actuating rod 25.

It will be apparent from the drawings that the actuating rod 25 shown in FIG. 1, together with its lever arms 26 connecting to the roof panels 14, are identical. with similar rods 25 and lever arms 26 provided on all of the support members 16, and in order that all actuating rods 25 may be moved in unison, the several pinions 29 are secured to a common shaft 31 journalled in the support members 16 and disposed parallel to the roof panels 14. Rotation of the shaft 31 to move the several actuating rods 25 in unison is effected manually in this instance by an endless chain 32 engaging a sprocket 33 secured to the shaft 31, the lower end of the chain 32 being as long as may be desired to extend to a convenient position for manual operation.

There are also provided a plurality of substantially flat rectangular ceiling panels 34, each substantially as wide as a roof panel 14, and theseceiling panels 34 are arranged in parallel relationship on the inclined inner faces 35 of the support members 16. Each ceiling panel 34 has a horizontal longitudinal hinged edge 36 and a horizontal longitudinal free edge 37, and it will be seen from FIG. 1 that the ceiling panels 34 may be hinged between upper closed attitudes in which they are coplanar and constitute a continuous inclined ceiling (as indicated in dotted outline at 38) and lower open attitudes in which they are parallel and admit light and air to the building.

In order that the ceiling panels 34 may be moved in unison between the open and closed attitudes, each actuating rod 25 has lever arms 39 corresponding in number to the number of panels 34, each arm 39 being pivotally connected at one end at 40 to the panel 34 and at its other end at 41 to the actuating rod 25. Thus, as apparent from FIG. 1, the actuating rod 25 acts to open both the roof panels 14 and the ceiling panels 34 in a single action and to close them in a single reverse action.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is top capping 42 adapted to provide a cover for the uppermost hinged roof panel 14 at all times. In this instance, the lowermost roof panel is a mock panel 43 secured fixedly, and while it is illustrated as being similar to a roof panel 14, it will be appreciated that it could alternatively be of some other shape. With regard to the ceiling arrangements, above the hinged ceiling panels 34, there is a fixed top panel 44, and there is a fixed bottom panel 45 beneath the movable ceiling panels 34. To ensure that the ceiling panels 34 close adequately, each has its levers 39 engaging rollers 46 which urge the panels firmly closed, only one such roller 46 being illustrated in the drawing. Preferably, the free edge 18 of each roof panel 14 has secured thereto a strip of gauze-like insect screen material 47 extending to the next panel at its hinged edge so that foreign material, such as leaves and trash, cannot enter the building. This strip 47 is adapted to hinge at its middle at 48 and fold back under the roof panel 14 as the latter is closed.

The roof structure unit may be regarded as a basic unit which would be usable, in appropriate dimensions, for a very small building. However, by using two units 12 and 12b as shown in FIG. 2, a larger area may be roofed without the roof panels 14 being unduly lengthy. The two units 12 and 12b are identical and are arranged in coplanar relationship with the roof panels of one aligned longitudinally with the panels of the other unit. The adjacent roof panel ends 20 are in near-abutting relationship, and there is provided a concealed channel member 49 beneath the adjacent ends 20, being mounted in this instance on support members 16 of both units. Thus, channel members 49 may be provided wherever there are adjacent roof structure units.

The invention will thus be found very effective in achieving the desired objects of control of air and light in larger quantities than previously attainable. The roof panels 14 are preferably of metal, such as aluminium, though equivalent sheet material would be suitable. Suitably the roof panels 14 may be made in lengths up to twenty feet, while a suitable width would be about one foot. The rafters or support members 16 may be of any desired material and dimensions and they could be suitably spaced up to about five feet apart.

It will of course be understood that the described and illustrated embodiment may be subject to many modifications of constructional detail and design without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. While the description in relation to the drawings has been restricted to roof structures, the invention is of course equally applicable to wall structures.

What I claim is:

1. A louvered building structure having at least two adjacent sets of movable outer panels on an upwardlyextending mounting frame, wherein:

(a) each set of panels includes a plurality of substantially rectangular outer panels arranged in parallel relationship on the mounting frame, each outer panel having substantially horizontal upper and lower longitudinal edges, the lower edge of each panel overlapping the upper edge of an adjacent panel in the same set to provide a seal therebetween when the outer panels are in closed attitudes;

(b) said mounting frame is constituted by a plurality of upwardly-extending support members extending transversely to said longitudinal edges of said outer panels, the upper longitudinal edge of each outer panel being hinged to outer portions of said support members so that the panels lie snugly against the outer part of said mounting frame when in closed attitudes and may be swung outwardly away from said mounting frame to open attitudes;

(c) means are provided for moving the outer panels of each set of panels in unison between said open and closed attitudes;

(d) the individual panels of adjacent sets of outer panels are in coplanar and aligned relationship with one another in their closed attitudes, the mutually 1 adjacent ends of such outer panels being in nearabutting relationship, and

(e) between adjacent sets of outer panels there is provided a drainage channel secured between said support members and disposed inwardly of said adjacent ends of said nearly abutting outer panels.

2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein each outer panel has an outwardly-extending bead configuratioii at its upper longitudinal edge and a downturned flange at its lower longitudinal edge, said flange of each outer panel being adapted to overlap said bead construction of an'adjacent lower outer panel in the same set of panels when the outer panels are in closed attitudes.

3. A structure according to claim 2, wherein said bead configuration and said flange of each outer panel are both of arcuate cross-section.

4. A structure according to claim 1, wherein each outer panel is provided with transversely-extending strengthening ribs at spaced intervals along its length in that part of the outer panel which lies between said bead cohfiguration and said flange.

5. A structure according to claim 1, wherein each outer panel has a continuous longitudinal hinge rod secured to its upper longitudinal edge, said hinge rod being pivotally mounted in hinge brackets secured to the support members.

6. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said means for moving the outer panels in unison includes a lever arm for each outer panel, each lever arm of the outer panels of one set of outer panels being pivotally connected at one end tothe respective outer panel while its other end is connected pivotally to an actuating member common to -all said lever arms.

7. A structure according to claim 6, wherein said actuating member is a reciprocable rod mounted for guided sliding motion on and along one of said support members of a set of outer panels, means being provided for reciprocating said rod to open and close the outer panels.

8. A structure according to claim 7, wherein the means for reciprocating said actuating rod of each set of outer panels includes a rack portion on the actuating rod and a rotatable pinion adapted to engage the rack portion, characterized in that the pinions of each set of outer panels are mounted on a common shaft and means are provided for rotating said shaft to turn the pinions and move the actuating rods of all the sets of outer panels in unison.

9. A structure according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a plurality of substantially flat rectangular inner panels arranged in parallel relationship on inner parts of the support members, each inner panel having substantiallyhorizontal longitudinal edges of which one is hingedly mounted, whereby the inner panels may be hingedbetween closed attitudes in which they are coplanar and constitute a continuous inner wall or ceiling, and open attitudes, means being provided for moving said inner panels in unison between said open and closed attitudes.

10. A structure according to claim 9, wherein said means for moving the outer panels in unison between said open and closed attitudes also constitutes said means for moving said inner panels in unison between said open and closed attitudes.

11. A structure according to claim 1, wherein each outer panel is provided with a mesh sheet connecting its lower longitudinal edge to the mounting frame, each said mesh sheet being in two hingedly-connected parts to permit hinging when the outer panel is in closed attitude.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,607,452 8/1952 Hall 49-77 2,892,221 6/1959 Hashimoto 49- 77 2,955,815 10/1960 Muhr .4978 X 3,060,529 10/1962 Clay 49 74 X 3,254,451 6/1966 Wilts et al. 49 92 X FOREIGN PATENTS 281,629 3/1968 Australia.

2,210 8/1871 Great Britain.

1,080,561 8/1967 Great Britain.

1. KARL BELL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 4982, 91 

